Kia is coming for Australia's dual-cab kings! New diesel ute to be benchmarked against the new Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux

Kia would be aiming for the crowns of Australia's best-selling utes with its diesel dual cab, with the brand expected to benchmark the all-new Ford Ranger and reigning sales champ the Toyota HiLux to ensure its workhorse is perfectly fit for duty.

Toyota and Ford are often battling it out for the title of Australia's best-selling vehicle (a battle the HiLux often wins), but with a new Ranger now on Australian soil, there's a growing feeling that a new ute benchmark has been set.

While Kia in Australia – or abroad, for that matter – is yet to fully detail its ute offerings beyond a surface level, CarsGuide understands the Ranger and HiLux will be the global target benchmark vehicles for a diesel dual-cab.

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The news follows confirmation from Korea that Kia's new ute will be offered in two guises, an all-electric model, and a "derivative" model reported to be an ICE-powered workhorse for emerging markets.

Kia announced in March that it will increase its previous battery electric vehicle roll out from 11 EVs to 14 by 2027, the plan included two new pick-ups. One model was described as a dedicated electric pick-up, the other a new mid-size ute model destined for “emerging markets”

In this instance, Australia would be considered an emerging market, given our love affair with diesel, especially in the ute and off-road sectors.

Around the same time, America's Automotive News quoted Kia sources who leaked further details of the plan. The publication reported that the planned full-size pick-up will likely be a dedicated EV built on the brand’s e-GMP platform, with the brand also exploring a body-on-frame architecture with multiple powertrain options for the mid-size ute destined for emerging markets.

CarsGuide believes the latter is the first version likely for Australia, which will be on a derivative platform that can underpin both internal combustion and EV powertrains. 

Kia Australia in the past has said that it expects its ute to deliver on the full range of dual-cab expectations, including diesel, dual-cab and 4WD.

The good news is that the wait for details is almost over, with Kia having told CarsGuide in June that "we’re not far away" from offical announcements.